Director, Talent Management

IMDiversity; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Rice University in Houston seeks a Director of Talent Management to lead strategy for recruitment, performance management, and leadership development across the Development and Alumni Relations division.

The role partners with division leaders, coaches teams, and drives workforce planning, engagement, and retention initiatives in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 4+ years in talent management, organizational development, or human resources.
• Experience leading programs or teams to improve performance, engagement, and retention.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead talent management strategy aligned with organizational goals.
• Develop and manage a high-performing talent management team.
• Partner with leaders to assess workforce needs and implement workforce planning.
• Design and deliver recruitment strategies to attract top talent.
• Build talent pipelines for current and future needs.
• Advise hiring managers on selection while ensuring policy compliance.
• Develop learning and leadership development programs.
• Use data and metrics to evaluate effectiveness and drive improvement.
• Guide leaders on performance management and employee development.

Skills

Leadership

Talent management

Strategic planning

Change management

Communication

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Advanced degree in HR/OD

SHRM/HRCI certification

Tools

HR systems

Workflow tools

Data analytics

Job description

Director, Talent Management

Houston, TX, United States

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. These values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They are reflected in the way we treat each other and in the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Executive Director, Business Operations, the Director, Talent Management provides strategic leadership, vision, and execution for talent-related initiatives across the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) division. This role is responsible for designing and implementing programs that enhance recruitment, performance management, professional development, and retention to support a high-performing and engaged workforce. The Director leads a team responsible for talent acquisition and development, partners closely with division leadership, and serves as a trusted advisor on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and employee engagement strategies.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate brings a balance of strategy and execution, strong business acumen, and the ability to influence at all levels while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree

4+ years of progressively responsible experience in talent management, organizational development, or human resources

Demonstrated success leading programs or teams that improve employee performance, engagement, and retention

Skills:

Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, planning, and change management skills

Proven expertise in talent management strategies, including recruitment, performance management, employee development, and retention

Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience coaching and developing teams

Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels

High emotional intelligence, with the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations

Strategic mindset with the ability to assess organizational needs and translate them into actionable talent solutions

Experience designing and facilitating training and leadership development programs, including the use of assessment tools

Experience leveraging, evaluating, implementing, and driving adoption of HR technologies and workflow tools to improve efficiency, operations, and reporting

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decision-making

Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously

Preferences:

Advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field

SHRM, HRCI, or another relevant certification

Experience in higher education or development/fundraising environments

Essential Functions:

Leads the division’s talent management strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and goals

Develops and manages a high-performing talent management team through coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement

Partners with leadership to assess workforce needs and implement organizational effectiveness and workforce planning strategies

Develops and executes recruitment strategies to attract, hire, and retain top talent

Builds and maintains talent pipelines to meet current and future workforce needs

Advises hiring managers on selection, interviewing, and hiring best practices while ensuring compliance with university policies

Designs and delivers learning, development, leadership, and team-effectiveness programs

Utilizes assessment tools and development resources to enhance individual and team performance

Leads employee engagement and retention initiatives that support an inclusive and high-performing workplace culture

Guides leaders on performance management, coaching, feedback, accountability, and employee development

Evaluates organizational structures, career pathways, and talent practices to support growth and mobility

Oversees process improvements, technology adoption, and system enhancements that increase operational efficiency

Uses data, metrics, and engagement feedback to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement

Serves as a trusted advisor on employee relations, team dynamics, leadership effectiveness, and complex people matters

Additional Functions:

Ensures accurate and timely personnel actions for new hires and existing employees

Maintains awareness of industry trends and best practices

Supports broader division initiatives and strategic priorities

Ensures alignment with university HR policies and practices

Is accountable for the professional development and performance of direct reports

Maintains contact with various administrators across campus, staying up to date on university initiatives and their potential impact on the division

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University